1,000 schools to get revamp but 300 denied funds [Irish Examiner]
- Published: 08 May 2009
Source: Irish Examiner
Friday, May 08, 2009
ALMOST 1,000 schools have been approved to have building works carried out during the summer holidays ; nearly two years after they applied.
But Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe has denied 206 primary and 110 second-level schools funding, leaving them with bills of up to €7,000 for getting their applications in order.
The summer works scheme (SWS) was set up in 2004 to allow non-emergency building and repair works be carried out during the months when children are on holidays.
Almost 1,300 schools submitted applications in September 2007 for projects the next summer, but then Education Minister Mary Hanafin announced three months later that there would be no 2008 scheme because of restrictions on her building budget.
While 967 of those schools have been cleared for work to go ahead, 316 were not successful.
Figures released to the Irish Examiner under the Freedom of Information Act last summer showed that more than €1 million was paid by schools in fees to builders and architects who prepared their applications.
While schools approved yesterday will have the fees reimbursed, those who were not will have to pay the bills (from €2,500 to €7,000), themselves or raise the money through parents.
Ferdia Kelly, general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB), representing the boards of management of 392 second-level schools, said: "This is another burden on top of budget cuts meaning that one-third of each school's income will have to be raised locally next year."
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) said the €80m fund would only allow the Government play catch-up with the building needs of schools.
"After a decade of record Government income, it shows that 204 schools need proper windows, 135 need modern sanitary facilities, 114 schools need safe electrical systems and 139 schools need decent roofs," said INTO general secretary John Carr.
Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe's spokesperson said greater value would be achieved with the funding as more than 1,180 small and medium scale projects would be carried out, whereas the €119.5m 2007 scheme funded 1,125 projects. He said schools should be able to get contractors to begin work in June.
Meeting to focus on education cuts and funding [Irish Times]
- Published: 08 May 2009
Source: Irish Times
PATSY McGARRY, Religious Affairs Correspondent
CHURCH OF IRELAND SYNOD: CUTS IN education spending for Protestant schools in the Republic, admissions policies at secondary schools in Northern Ireland, and the grim consequences for church finances of the credit crunch are to dominate discussions at the annual Church of Ireland General Synod which begins in Armagh this morning.
This year, for the first time, the synod takes place over a weekend, to allow for the participation of those who might be unavailable during the week.
The church's board of education, in its report to the General Synod, has described the "dismay and unprecedented concern'' of all involved in Protestant schools "arising from the unexpected announcement of significant cuts'' by the Government in the 2009 budget. It was "a cause of great resentment on the part of many in our community'' and was "without consultation or notice''.
It noted that at post-primary level since 1967 such schools were designated as "block grant schools'' within the free education scheme, a "long-established status [which] had received the public acknowledgement of successive ministers for education". The report also pointed out that "in vast tracts of the Republic of Ireland . . . the State is not, itself, providing free Protestant secondary schools".
It recalled that last November all four main churches had intervened on the North's 11-plus issue "out of a pastoral concern" amid "the growing confusion about transfer arrangements to post-primary education''.
Guidelines for admission which did not allow for academic selection, issued by the Department of Education in Belfast, were "not legally binding'' and many grammar schools had indicated that they planned to set up independent admission tests, it said.
The system of admission was "unregulated", leaving parents and children "feeling bewildered by the uncertainties ahead".
A report on the church's 2008 finances disclosed that funds had dropped in value by 42 per cent, to €386 million, and accounts for last year showed a 12 per cent drop in the surplus of income over spending. The report continued that "worrying as these figures are, they fail to reflect the true scale of the downward trend as the impact on the church's income only began to be evident towards the latter part of 2008. In reality, the negative economic effect will continue to reduce income further throughout 2009 and beyond.''
A Bill is to be presented to the General Synod calling for an increase in contributions to the clergy pensions scheme. It is proposed that these rise by 2-7.6 per cent per member from January 1st next and by 1.6-18.4 per cent for parishes/dioceses.
Another Bill proposes amending the Book of Common Prayer to include a declaration to address the church's historic formularies, as "negative statements towards other Christians should not be seen as representing the spirit of the church today".
Over €80m to be spent on school revamp scheme, says Minister [Irish Times]
- Published: 08 May 2009
Source: Irish Times
SEAN FLYNN, Education Editor
MORE THAN €80 million is to be spent on a refurbishment programme for about 1,000 schools this summer. The Summer Works Scheme, which was deferred last year, is being revived, Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe announced yesterday.
It will allow schools to fund work like roof replacements and repairs, window replacement and various structural improvements.
Yesterday, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation described the list of schools which will begin summer works as an indictment of Celtic Tiger Ireland. The union said the list revealed that 204 schools needed proper windows, 135 needed modern sanitary facilities, 114 schools needed safe electrical systems and 139 schools needed decent roofs.
John Carr, the INTO's general secretary, said: "This list of school building projects is a roll call of shame, showing work that has not been done."
The deferral of the programme last year was widely criticised by teacher unions and school managers. This summer, some 650 primary schools and 317 post-primary schools will benefit from the programme. The work is completed over the summer so disruption to daily school life is minimised.
Yesterday Mr O'Keeffe said the investment would create much-needed construction jobs. "I'd ask schools to ensure that they get best value for money on prices for jobs in the more competitive construction market," said Mr O'Keeffe.
The department's planning and building unit will shortly contact all schools approved for grant aid, with further details and instructions on how to proceed.
The INTO said the Government was struggling to play catch up with the building needs of schools. The union said applications for the building works announced as part of the programme yesterday were made in mid-2007. "This means schools have waited nearly two years for an answer from the department," said Mr Carr. "In the meantime, children and teachers have endured substandard electricity systems, inadequate toilet facilities and leaking roofs."
"Schools looked for funding in 2007 because they needed urgent upgrading then," said Mr Carr. He said today's announcement referred to work that should have been carried out long ago.
"This is last year's repair and maintenance programme," said Mr Carr. "The Minister is trying to repackage and resell a scheme."
Full details of the scheme are on the department's website, www.education.ie/home
Summer Works Building Scheme [INTO]
- Published: 07 May 2009
Source: INTO
Statement by John Carr, General Secretary, Irish National Teachers' Organisation, on Summer Works Building Scheme
7 May 2009
Schools Summer Works Building Scheme ; scaled back and late
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation said today that the government was struggling to play catch up with the building needs of schools. The union was responding to an announcement by the Minister for Education and Science of a Summer Works Building Programme in schools.
The union said applications for the building works announced today were made in mid 2007. "This means schools have waited nearly two years for an answer from the Education Department," said John Carr, General Secretary of the INTO. "In the meantime, children and teachers have endured substandard electricity systems, inadequate toilet facilities and leaking roofs."
"Schools looked for funding in 2007 because they needed urgent upgrading then," said Mr Carr. He said today's announcement referred to work that should have been carried out long ago.
"This is last year's repair and maintenance programme," said Mr Carr. "The Minister is trying to repackage and re-sell a scheme that is well past its sell by date." "What schools want to know is where is this year's programme," he said.
Mr Carr described the list published today as an indictment of Celtic Tiger Ireland. "After a decade of record government income, today's announcement shows that 204 schools need proper windows, 135 schools need modern sanitary facilities, 114 schools need safe electrical systems and 139 schools need decent roofs," said Mr Carr. "This list of school building projects is a roll call of shame showing work that has not been done."
"Nor is this the full picture," said Mr Carr. "Since September 2007 schools have been unable to apply to the Education Department for funding under the scheme. Because of this, there is no doubt that hundreds of other schools need essential work done."
According to the INTO more than 120 million euro was provided for a similar scheme in the summer of 2007. "Today's announcement shows that investment in the maintenance of school buildings has been cut by a third," said Mr Carr.
The union said it would examine the list of projects announced to see if all applications made in 2007 are included.
Ends.
Govt accuses of failing to understand special needs [Herald]
- Published: 07 May 2009
Source: Herald
Fine Gael is accusing the Government of failing to understand the reality of special-needs provision in Irish schools.
The party tabled a private-members' motion in the Dail last night calling for the reversal of the decision to abolish 128 special-needs classes in Irish schools as part of budget cutbacks.
The Government is set to use its majority to defeat the motion when it is put to a vote later today.
Opening the debate last night, Fine Gael education spokesperson Brian Hayes said the proposal to abolish classes would have been rejected out of hand by any minister with a proper understanding of special-needs provision.
Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe, however, defended the Government's record in the area.
He said Fianna Fail-led coalitions had spent more than €1bn on special needs education in the past 11 years, transforming the ability of schools to provide for all children.
